Multiple keyboard apparatus

ABSTRACT

A transportable multiple keyboard instrument having two pivotally connected keyboard units. Each unit has a plurality of keyboards connected to an electronic sound producing system. Folding leg structure supports the keyboard units in a generally horizontal playing position and a folded upright position. Each keyboard unit has a fold open housing for access into the interior of the housing. The leg structure has end legs and a center leg supporting the units in the horizontal playing position and the folded transport position.

United States Patent [191 Olson Aug. 7, 1973 MULTIPLE KEYBOAITDAPPARATUS Percy Dean Olson, Rt. 4, Oakview Dr., Owatonna, Minn.

Filed: Dec. 14, 1970 Appl. No.: 97,736

[76] Inventor:

OTHER PUBLICATIONS The instrumentalist, Vol. 5, No. 1, September, 1950,

pages 26 and 27.

Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F.Gonzales Attorney-Burd, Braddock & Bartz [57] ABSTRACT A transportablemultiple keyboard instrument having two pivotally connected keyboardunits. Each unit has a plurality of keyboards connected to an electronicsound producing system. Folding leg structure supports the keyboardunits in a generally horizontal playing position and a folded uprightposition. Each keyboard unit has a fold open housing for access into theinterior of the housing. The leg structure has end legs and a center legsupporting the units in the horizontal playing position and the foldedtransport position.

30 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 7, 1973 I5 Sheets-Sheet l N9* *9 w M mm E r a Mm Nv m QM, C u w AM P Y B mv \mJ Patented Aug. 7,1973 I5 Sheets-Sheet 13 LIL? fit;

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1 MULTIPLE KEYBOARD APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION been developedwhich can be folded and transported.

This instrument has a plurality of keyboards carried in pivotallyconnected enclosures. Leg structure supports the instrument at a playingheight above the floor. This instrument is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,478,159.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a foldable multiplekeyboard apparatus that has a number of separate keyboards that can beplayed individually or simultaneously. Each keyboard unit has a basemeans carrying a housing having a chamber for accommodating anelectronic sound producing system and circuitry of the instrument. Thehousing vis pivotally mounted on a portion of the base so that it can bemoved to a position to permit access to the chamber. A releasable locksecures the housing means to the base.

The keyboard teaching apparatus is carried on folding leg structurehaving a plurality of leg means connected to the keyboard units. The legmeans selectively support the keyboard units in a first generallyhorizontal playing position and a second generally upright transportposition. One of the leg means has a biasing means to yieldably controlthe pivotal movement of the units relative to each other so that theunits can be easily folded and unfolded.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top plan view of a multiple keyboardapparatus of the invention with the keyboard units located in thehorizontal playing position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional viewof a portion of the end leg of FIG.3 supporting the keyboard unit;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly sectioned, of the legassemblysupporting the keyboard units;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the multiple keyboard apparatusfolded in the transport position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view showing the lock structure holding thekeyboard units in the folded position;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 8 showing the keyboardhousing in the open position.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the keyboardteaching apparatus or instrument of the invention, indicated generallyat 15, for teaching music to a plurality of students. The apparatus hasa first keyboard unit 16 having side keyboards 17 and 18 and an endkeyboard 19. Each keyboard has a plurality of keys. In the preferredstructure, 44 keys are provided so that more than three octaves can beplayed. Located in longitudinal alignment with the first keyboard unit16 is a second keyboard unit 21. Unit 21 is virtually identical with theunit 16 and has side keyboards 22 and 23 and an end keyboard 24.Extended upwardly and inwardly from each of the keyboards is a support,stand or music rack 26 for sheet music and the like. The supports 26 arepivotally mounted on the unit so that they can be folded down againstthe keyboards when the apparatus is folded to its upright transport andstorage position. Control panels in front of each keyboard have jackreceptacles adapted to be connected to earphones used by the students.Recorded instructional material can be introduced into the earphones asthe student plays. The instructor can monitor and communicate with thestudent through the earphones.

The units 16 and 17 are supported on a foldable leg assembly, indicatedgenerally at 27. The mid-portion of the leg assembly has pivot structure28 pivotally connecting adjacent portions of the units 16 and 21 inendto-end relationship. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the leg assembly 27supports the keyboard units 16 and 17 in a horizontal position locatingthe keyboards at an elevation or height convenient for playing bystudents. FIG. 6 shows the leg assembly 27 supporting the keyboardinfolded upright transport position.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is shown the keyboard unit 16supported on the leg assembly 27. The unit 16 has a generally horizontalbase member 29 secured to a pair of generally longitudinal frame members31. Base member 29 is a flat sheet, as plywood or the like. Leg assembly27 is pivotally connected to the frame members 31. Frame members 31 canbe elongated rails or angle members pivotally connected to the pivotstructure 28. Positioned over the base member 29 is a casing or housing32 having a floor or bottom wall 33 surrounding the base member 29.Housing 32 has a one piece top with side and end recesses for thekeyboards. The top can be a one piece molded plastic member. The housing32 is pivotally mounted on the outer end of the base member 29 with atransverse hinge 34 which permits the housing to move to an openposition to provide access into the housing chamber 35 to inspect andrepair the electronic components of the sound producing system 36 aswell as the keyboard and the circuits connecting the keyboard with theelectronic sound producing system. The electronic components are locatedin the housing that is mounted on the base member "29. An example of asound producing sys tem usable in this keyboard teaching apparatus isshown in 'U. S. Pat. No. 3,478,159. I l I 1 A transverse plate 37"issecured'to the bottom wall 33 of the housing. The plate 37 has a portionthat extends over the inside edge of the base member29 to function as astop and an anchor for lock bolts 38. Bolts 38 extend through base.member 29'and into a nut mounted on the plate 37to releasably lock thehousing 32 to the base member 29. When the lock bolts 38 are removed thehousing 32 can be pivoted upwardly in the direction of arrow 41 to theopen position, as shown in FIG. 9. The opening 39 in the bottom wall 33provides convenient access to the chamber 35. The leg assembly 27maintains the base member 29 in the general horizontal position. Theentire housing can be removed from the base member by disconnecting thehinge 34 and the electronic circuitryconnecting the soundproducingsystem 36 with the keyboards.

Returning to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, leg assembly 27 comprises a first pair ofdownwardly extended legs 42 connected with pivots 43 to the outer endsof the frame members 31. Located on the opposite end of the keyboardteaching apparatus is a second pair of downwardly directed legs 44connected to the frame members 31A with pivots 46. As shown in FIG. 3,each pair of legs has a cross member 47. Each leg has a caster wheel 48attached to a generally upright arm 49.

As shown in FIG. 4, arm 49 telescopes up into the bottom end of the leg42. A bolt 51 is used to fix the position of the arm 49 relative to theleg 42. Arm 49 has a second hole 52 which permits adjustment of thelength of the leg so that the playing height of the keyboard can beadjusted to accommodate the students.

The mid-portion of the leg assembly 27 has a downwardly directed thirdor center leg assembly 53 connected to the first and second pair of endlegs with gen erally horizontal braces 54 and 55. Pivots $6 connectopposite ends of the braces to an ear secured to the center leg assemblyand the mid-portions of the end legs. The lower portion of the centerleg assembly 53 is connected to the frame members 31 and 31A withupwardly and outwardly directed struts 57. Pivot 58 connects the strut57 to the frame member 31. In similar manner, pivot 59 connects thestrut 57A to the frame member 31A.

As shown in FIG. 5, the third leg assembly 53 comprises a first fixeddownwardly directed tubular member 61 having an upper end secured to atransverse member 63 of the pivot structure 28. Pivot structure 28includes in addition to the transverse member 63 longitudinally directedears 64 carrying pivots 66 connecting the inner ends of the framemembers 31 and 31A to the pivot structure. Slidably positioned in thelower end of member 61 is a second tubular member 62. The member 62adjustably carries a downwardly directed arm 69 secured to a groundengaging caster wheel 71. A pin 68 attaches the lower ends of the struts57 and 57A and the arm 69 to the slidable tubular member 62. The arm 69has a second hole 70 whereby the length of the third leg assemblycan beadjusted. Located within the tubular member 61 is a coil spring 67 whichbiases the second member 62 downwardly or out of the 31 and 31A so thatthey support the entire apparatus when the center leg assembly movesaway from the floor. As the units 16 and 21 approach the uprighttransport and storage position, as shown in FIG. 6, the hook 73 willautomatically engage the rod 74 to hold the units in this position. Whenthe hook 73 is released, the units 16 and 21 can be moved down and tothe horizontal position. The struts 57 and 57A move upwardly movingmember 62 up against the biasing force of the spring 67. The biasingforce of spring 67 is sufficient to prevent the units from folding openwithout additional force. This makes the opening and closing of theapparatus always under the control of the operator.

The teaching apparatus has been shown and described to have six separatekeyboards located on a pair of pivotally connected keyboard units. Eachkeyboard unit can have additional keyboards to accommodate additionalstudents. The length of the keyboard unit can be increased to addadditional side keyboardsto each unit. An example of this structure isshown in my copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. D26,453, filed Dec.14, 1970.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A keyboard unit comprising: base means, leg means attached to thebase means supporting the base means in a generally horizontal position,housing means having a chamber located over the base means, a pluralityof separate keyboards mounted on said housing means and projected intosaid chamber, said member 61. When the frame members 31 and 31A are inthe generally horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 5, the coil spring67 is under compression as the struts 57 and 57A move the member 62 toits up position relative to the member 61.

FIG. 6 shows the keyboard units 16 and 21 being supported by the legassembly 27 in an upright folded position. The keyboard units are lockedin the folded position with a bar 72 having a hook. One end of bar 72 ispivotally secured to base member 29A of unit 21. The hook cooperateswith a rod attached to the base member 29 of unit 16. The hook must bereleased before the units 16 and 21 can be moved to their horizontalpositions. In the folded position the center leg assembly 53 is extendedand located between the units 16 and 21. The operation of the legassembly is best seen in FIG. 5. On moving the apparatus from agenerally horizontal playing position to the upright folded position,the midportion of the leg assembly 27 and pivot structure 28 moveupwardly, as shown by arrow 76. The frame members 31 and 31A move fromthe generally horizontal position to an upright position. This moves thestruts 57 and 57A downwardly carrying the second member 62 out of thefirst tubular member 61. The spring 67 being under compression aids inthe folding movement of the leg assembly. The outer pairs of legs 42 and44 move inwardly and pivot relative to the frame members keyboardshaving keys exposed to the outside of said housing means, meanspivotally connecting a portion of the housing means adjacent andgenerally parallel to one of the keyboards to the base means whereby thehousing means can be moved relative to said base means to permit accessinto the chamber, and means to lock said housing means to said basemeans.

2. The keyboard unit of claim 1 wherein: said plurality of separatekeyboards includes a transverse keyboard on the outer end of saidhousing means, said means pivotally connecting a portion of the housingmeans being located adjacent and generally parallel to said transversekeyboard. I

3. The keyboard unit of claim 1 wherein: the means pivotally connectinga portion of the housing means to the base means is a transverse hingesecured to the base means and the housing means. i

4. The keyboard unit of claim 1 wherein: the housing means has a bottomwallwith an opening open to the chamber, said base means being of a sizeand shape to close said opening when the housing means is'locked to saidbase means.

5. The keyboard unit of claim 1 wherein: said keyboards comprise sidekeyboards and an end keyboard.

6. The keyboard unit of claim 1 wherein: said housing means has a onepiece top wall having recesses to accommodate the keyboards.

7. The keyboard unit of claim 1 including: a sound producing systemcoupled to the keyboards and mounted on the base means.

8. A multiple keyboard apparatus comprising: a first keyboard unithaving a base, housing means located over the base, and a plurality ofkeyboards having keys exposed to the outside of said housing means; asecond keyboard unit having a base, second housing means located oversaid base, and a plurality of keyboards having keys exposed to theoutside of said second housing means; first elongated generallylongitudinal frame means secured to the base of the first keyboard unit,second elongated generally longitudinal frame means secured to the baseof the second keyboard unit, trans verse pivot means pivotallyconnecting the first frame means to the second frame means for selectivemovement of said first and second keyboard units to a first generallyhorizontal position and to a second generally upright back-to-backposition with the keys on the outsides of the apparatus, and a pluralityof leg means connected to the first and second frame means and pivotmeans to support said keyboard units in said first and second positions.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: said leg means comprise first legmeans movably connected to the first frame means, second leg meansmovably connected to the second frame means, third leg means connectedto the pivot means, brace means connecting the first leg means with thethird leg means and the second leg means with the third leg meanswhereby the first, second and third leg means support the units in thefirst position and the first and second leg means support the units inthe second position.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 including: biasing means associated withsaid plurality of leg means to yieldably control the pivotal movement ofsaid units.

ll. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: said leg means comprise first legmeans movably connected to the first frame member, second leg meansmovably connected to the second frame member, third leg means connectedto the means pivotally connecting the first frame member with the secondmember, brace means connecting the first leg means with the third legmeans and second leg means with the third leg means whereby the first,second and third leg means support the keyboard units in the firstposition and the first and second leg means support the keyboard unitsin the second position, and biasing means located within said third legmeans to yieldably control the pivotal movement of said keyboard units.

12. The apparatus of claim, 11 wherein: said third leg means has a firsttubular member and a second member telescoped into the first tubularmember, said biasing means includes spring means within the firsttubular member to bias the second member out of the first member andstrut means connecting the second member to the first frame member andthe second frame member.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 including: releasable latch means connectedto the first frame means and second frame means to hold the keyboardunits in the second position.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 including: pivot means connecting thehousing means to the adjacent bases and releasable lock means forholding said housing means on said bases.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: the plurality of leg meanscomprise first leg means pivotally connected to an outer end portion ofthe first frame means, second leg means pivotally connected to an outerend portion of the second frame means, and third leg means fixed to thetransverse pivot means and spaced substantially the same distance fromthe first leg means and the second leg means, first brace means locatedgenerally below the first frame means pivotally connected to the firstleg means and third leg means, second brace means located generallybelow the second frame means pivotally connected to the second leg meansand the third leg means, said first and second brace means being locatedin a generally common horizontal plane when the first and second framemeans are in the first generally horizontal position.

16. A multiple keyboard apparatus comprising: a first keyboard unithaving first base means, first housing means located over the first basemeans, a plurality of separate first keyboards mounted within the firsthousing means, each of said first keyboards having keys ex posed to theoutside of the first housing means; a second keyboard unit having secondbase means, second housing means located over the second base means, aplurality of separate second keyboards mounted within the second housingmeans, each of said second keyboards having keys exposed to the outsideof the second housing means; frame means carrying said first and secondkeyboard units, said frame means having a pair of first elongatedgenerally horizontal frame members and a pair of second elongatedgenerally horizontal frame members, transverse means pivotallyconnecting the first frame members to the second frame members wherebythe first and second frame members can be selectively moved to a firstgenerally horizontal end-toend position and to a second generallyupright side-byside position, said first keyboard unit mounted directlyon at least one of the pair of first members and said second keyboardunit mounted directly on at least one of the pair of second members, anda plurality of leg means connected to each of the members of the framemeans to selectively support said keyboard units in a first generallyhorizontal position and in a second generally upright back-to-backposition with the keys on the outside of the apparatus. 7

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein: said plurality of leg meanscomprise first leg means connected to outer end portions of the pair offirst elongated frame members, second leg means connected to outer endportions of the pair of second elongated frame members and third legmeans located between the first and second leg means operably connectedto said pair 0 first and second elongated frame members. I 18. Theapparatus of claim .16 wherein: the first housing means is of a size tocover the entirefirst base means, and the second housing means is of asize to cover the entire second base means. i

19. The apparatus of claim l6wherein: the leg means include legs havingoutwardly directed portions, wheel means mounted on said portions, saidwheel means being located outwardly of the outside upright planes of thefirst'and'second keyboard units when the first and second keyboard unitsare in the upright back-toback position.

20. A multiple keyboard apparatus comprising: a first keyboard unithaving first housing means with at least one keyboard having keysexposed to the outside of the housing means; a second keyboard unithaving second housing means with at least one keyboard having keysexposed to the outside of the second housing means;

,frame means carrying said first and second keyboard pivotallyconnecting the first frame section to the second frame section wherebythe first and second frame sections can be moved from generallyhorizontal positions to generally upright side-by-side positions; saidfirst keyboard unit mounted on the first section and said secondkeyboard unit mounted on the second section; and a plurality of legmeans connected to each section of the frame means to selectivelysupport said keyboard units in a first generally horizontal position andin a second generally upright back-to-back position with the keys on theoutsides of the apparatus, said leg means having first leg means movablyconnected to the first section, second leg means movably connected tothe second frame section, third leg means connected to the transversemeans, brace means connecting the first leg means with the third legmeans and the second leg means with the third leg means whereby thefirst, second and third leg means support the keyboard units in thefirst generally horizontal position and the first and second leg meanssupport the keyboard units in the second upright back-to-back position.

21. A multiple keyboard apparatus comprising: a first keyboard unithaving first housing means with at least one keyboard having keysexposed to the outside-of the first housing means; a second keyboardunit having second housing means with at least one keyboard having keysexposed to the outside of the second housing means; frame means carryingsaid first and second keyboard units; said frame means having a firstelongated generally horizontal frame section and a second elongatedgenerally horizontal frame section; transverse means pivotallyconnecting the first frame section to the second frame section wherebythe first and second frame sections can be moved from generallyhorizontal positions to generally upright side-by-side positions; saidfirst keyboard unit mounted on the first section and said secondkeyboard unit mounted on the second section; a plurality of leg meansconnected to each section of the frame means to selectively support saidkeyboard units in a first generally horizontal position and in a secondgenerally upright back-to-back position with the keys on the outsides ofthe apparatus, and releasable lock means attached to the frame means forholding the keyboard units in the second generally upright back-to-backposition.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein: said plurality of leg meanscomprise first leg means connected to outer end portions of the pair offirst elongated frame members, second leg means connected to outer endportions of the pair of second elongated frame members and third legmeans located between the first and second leg means operably connectedto said pair of first and second elongated frame members.

23. The apparatus of claim 2,1,wherein: a plurality of separatekeyboards are mounted withinthe housing means of each keyboard unit,each of said keyboards having keys exposed to the outside of the housingmeans of each keyboard unit.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein: the leg means include legs havingoutwardly directed portions, wheel means mounted on said portions, saidwheel means being located outwardly of the outside upright planes of thefirst and second keyboard units when the first and second keyboard unitsare in the upright back-toback position. I

25. A multiple keyboard apparatus comprising: a first keyboard unithaving first housing means with at least one keyboard having keysexposed to the outside of the first housing means; a second keyboardunit having second housing means with at least one keyboard having keysexposed to the outside of the second housing means; frame means carryingsaid first and second keyboard units; said frame means having a firstelongated generally horizontal frame section and a second elongatedgenerally horizontal frame section; transverse means pivotallyconnecting the first frame section to the second frame section wherebythe first and second frame sections can be moved from generallyhorizontal positions to generally upright side-by-side positions; saidfirst keyboard unit mounted on the first section and said secondkeyboard unit mounted on the second section; and a plurality of legmeans connected to each section of the frame means to selectivelysupport said keyboard units in a first generally horizontal position andin a second generally upright back-to-back position with the keys on theoutsides of the apparatus, said plurality of leg means having first legmeans pivotally connected to an outer end portion of the first framesection, second leg means pivotally connected to an outer end portion ofthe second frame section, and third leg means fixed to the transversemeans and spaced substantially the same distance from the first legmeans and second leg means, first brace means located generally belowthe first frame section pivotally connected to the first leg means andthe third leg means, second brace means located generally below thesecond frame section pivotally connected to the second leg means and thethird leg means, said first and second brace means being located in agenerally common horizontal plane when the frame means isin the firstgenerally horizontal position. v

26. A multiple keyboard apparatus comprising: a first keyboard unithaving a first base means, first housing means located over and coveringthe first base means, a plurality of separate first keyboards mountedwithin the first housing means, each of said first keyboards having keysexposed to the outside of the first housing means; a second keyboardunit having a second base means, second housing means located over andcovering the second base means, a plurality of separate second keyboardsmounted within the second housing means, each of said second keyboardshaving keys exposed to the outside of the second housing means; framemeans carrying said first and second keyboard units; said frame meanshaving a first elongated frame section secured to the first base meansand a second elongated frame section secured to the second base means;pivot means movably connecting the first frame section to the second.frame section whereby the first and second frame sections can beselectively moved to afirst generally horizontal end-to-end position andto a second generally upright side-by-side position; and a plurality ofleg means connected to the frame means to selectively support saidkeyboard units in a first generally horizontal position and in a secondgenerally upright back-to-back position with the keys on the outside ofthe apparatus.

27. The multiple keyboard apparatus of claim 26 wherein: the first framesection and the second frame section each have a pair of elongated framemembers.

28. The multiple keyboard apparatus of claim 26 wherein: the leg meanscomprise first leg means connected to the first frame section, secondleg means connected to the second frame section, and third leg meanslocated between the first and second leg means and connected to thefirst and second frame sections.

29. The apparatus of claim 26 including: first means for securing thefirst housing means to the first base means and second means forsecuring the second housing means to the second base means.

30. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein: the leg means 5 back position.

I include legs having outwardly directed portions, wheel

1. A keyboard unit comprising: base means, leg means attached to thebase means supporting the base means in a generally horizontal position,housing means having a chamber located over the base means, a pluralityof separate keyboards mounted on said housing means and projected intosaid chamber, said keyboards having keys exposed to the outside of saidhousing means, means pivotally connecting a portion of the housing meansadjacent and generally parallel to one of the keyboards to the basemeans whereby the housing means can be moved relative to said base meansto permit access into the chamber, and means to lock said housing meansto said base means.
 2. The keyboard unit of claim 1 wherein: saidplurality of separate keyboards includes a transverse keyboard on theouter end of said housing means, said means pivotally connecting aportion of the housing means being located adjacent and generallyparallel to said transverse keyboard.
 3. The keyboard unit of claim 1wherein: the means pivotally connecting a portion of the housing meansto the base means is a transverse hinge secured to the base means andthe housing means.
 4. The keyboard unit of claim 1 wherein: the housingmeans has a bottom wall with an opening open to the chamber, said basemeans being of a size and shape to close said opening when the housingmeans is locked to said base means.
 5. The keyboard unit of claim 1wherein: said keyboards comprise side keyboards and an end keyboard. 6.The keyboard unit of claim 1 wherein: said housing means has a one piecetop wall having recesses to accommodate the keyboards.
 7. The keyboardunit of claim 1 including: a sound producing system coupled to thekeyboards and mounted on the base means.
 8. A multiple keyboardapparatus comprising: a first keyboard unit having a base, housing meanslocated over the base, and a plurality of keyboards having keys exposedto the outside of said housing means; a second keyboard unit having abase, second housing means located over said base, and a plurality ofkeyboards having keys exposed to the outside of said second housingmeans; first elongated generally longitudinal frame means secured to thebase of the first keyboard unit, second elongated generally longitudinalframe means secured to the base of the second keyboard unit, transversepivot means pivotally connecting the first frame means to the secondframe means for selective movement of said first and second keyboardunits to a first generally horizontal position and to a second generallyupright back-to-back position with the keys on the outsides of theapparatus, and a plurality of leg means connected to the first andsecond frame means and pivot means to support said keyboard units insaid first and second positions.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:said leg means comprise first leg means movably connected to the firstframe means, second leg means movably connected to the second framemeans, third leg means connected to the pivot means, brace meansconnecting the first leg means with the third leg means and the secondleg means with the third leg means whereby the first, second and thirdleg means support the units in the first position and the first andsecond leg means support the units in the second position.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 8 including: biasing means associated with saidplurality of leg means to yieldably control the pivotal movement of saidunits.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: said leg means comprisefirst leg means movably connected to the first frame member, second legmeans movably connected to the second frame member, third leg meansconnected to the means pivotally connecting the first frame member withthe second member, brace means connecting the first leg means with thethird leg means and second leg means with the third leg means wherebythe first, second and third leg means support the keyboard units in thefirst position and the first and second leg means support the keyboardunits in the second position, and biasing means located within saidthird leg means to yieldably control the pivotal movement of saidkeyboard units.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: said third legmeans has a first tubular member and a second member telescoped into thefirst tubular member, said biasing means includes spring means withinthe first tubular member to bias the second member out of the firstmember and strut means connecting the second member to the first framemember and the second frame member.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8including: releasable latch means connected to the first frame means andsecond frame means to hold the keyboard units in the second position.14. The apparatus of claim 8 including: pivot means connecting thehousing means to the adjacent bases and releasable lock means forholding said housing means on said bases.
 15. The apparatus of claim 8wherein: the plurality of leg means comprise first leg means pivotallyconnected to an outer end portion of the first frame means, second legmeans pivotally connected to an outer end portion of the second framemeans, and third leg means fixed to the transverse pivot means andspaced substantially the same distance from the first leg means and thesecond leg means, first brace means located generally below the firstframe means pivotally connected to the first leg means and third legmeans, second brace means located generally below the second frame meanspivotally connected to the second leg means and the third leg means,said first and second brace means being located in a generally commonhorizontal plane when the first and second frame means are in the firstgenerally horizontal position.
 16. A multiple keyboard apparatuscomprising: a first keyboard unit having first base means, first housingmeans located over the first base means, a plurality of separate firstkeyboards mounted within the first housing means, each of said firstkeyboards having keys exposed to the outside of the first housing means;a second keyboard unit having second base means, second housing meanslocated over the second base means, a plurality of separate secondkeyboards mounted within the second housing means, each of said secondkeyboards having keys exposed to the outside of the second housingmeans; frame means carrying said first and second keyboard units, saidframe means having a pair of first elongated generally horizontal framemembers and a pair of second elongated generally horizontal framemembers, transverse means pivotally connecting the first frame membersto the second frame members whereby the first and second frame memberscan be selectively moved to a first generally horizontal end-to-endposition and to a second generally upright side-by-side position, saidfirst keyboard unit mounted directly on at least one of the pair offirst members and said second keyboard unit mounted directly on at leastone of the pair of second members, and a plurality of leg meansconnected to each of the members of the frame means to selectivelysupport said keyboard units in a first generally horizontal position andin a second generally upright back-to-back position with the keys on theoutside of the apparatus.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein: saidplurality of leg means comprise first leg means connected to outer endportions of the pair of first elongated frame members, second leg meansconnected to outer end portions of the pair of second elongated framemembers and third leg means located between the first and second legmeans operably connected to said pair of first and second elongatedframe members.
 18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein: the first housingmeans is of a size to cover the entire first base means, and the secondhousing means is of a size to cover the entire second base means. 19.The apparatus of claim 16 wherein: the leg means include legs havingoutwardly directed portions, wheel means mounted on said portions, saidwheel means being located outwardly of the outside upright planes of thefirst and second keyboard units when the first and second keyboard unitsare in the upright back-to-back position.
 20. A multiple keyboardapparatus comprising: a first keyboard unit having first housing meanswith at least one keyboard having keys exposed to the outside of thehousing means; a second keyboard unit having second housing means withat least one keyboard having keys exposed to the outside of the secondhousing means; frame means carrying said first and second keyboardunits; said frame means having a first elongated generally horizontalframe section and a second elongated generally horizontal frame section;transverse means pivotally connecting the first frame section to thesecond frame section whereby the first and second frame sections can bemoved from generally horizontal positions to generally uprightside-by-side positions; said first keyboard unit mounted on the firstsection and said second keyboard unit mounted on the second section; anda plurality of leg means connected to each section of the frame means toselectively support said keyboard units in a first generally horizontalposition and in a second generally upright back-to-back position withthe keys on the outsides of the apparatus, said leg means having firstleg means movably connected to the first section, second leg meansmovably connected to the second frame section, third leg means connectedto the transverse means, brace means connecting the first leg means withthe third leg means and the second leg means with the third leg meanswhereby the first, second and third leg means support the keyboard unitsin the first generally horizontal position and the first and second legmeans support the keyboard units in the second upright back-to-backposition.
 21. A multiple keyboard apparatus comprising: a first keyboardunit having first housing means with at least one keyboard having keysexposed to the outside of the first housing means; a second keyboardunit having second housing means with at least one keyboard having keysexposed to the outside of the second housing means; frame means carryingsaid first and second keyboard units; said frame means having a firstelongated generally horizontal frame section and a second elongatedgenerally horizontal frame section; transverse means pivotallyconnecting the first frame section to the second frame section wherebythe first and second frame sections can be moved from generallyhorizontal positions to generally upright side-by-side positions; saidfirst keyboard unit mounted on the first section and said secondkeyboard unit mounted on the second section; a plurality of leg meansconnected to each section of the frame means to selectively support saidkeyboard units in a first generally horizontal position and in a secondgenerally upright back-to-back position with the keys on the outsides ofthe apparatus, and releasable lock means attached to the frame means forholding the keyboard units in the second generally upright back-to-backposition.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein: said plurality of legmeans comprise first leg means connected to outer end portions of thepair of first elongated frame members, second leg means connected toouter end portions of the pair of second elongated frame members andthird leg means located between the first and second leg means operablyconnected to said pair of first and second elongated frame members. 23.The apparatus of claim 21 wherein: a plurality of separate keyboards aremounted within the housing means of each keyboard unit, each of saidkeyboards having keys exposed to the outside of the housing means ofeach keyboard unit.
 24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein: the leg meansinclude legs having outwardly directed portions, wheel means mounted onsaid portions, said wheel means being located outwardly of the outsideupright planes of the first and second keyboard units when the first andsecond keyboard units are in the upright back-to-back position.
 25. Amultiple keyboard apparatus comprising: a first keyboard unit havingfirst housing means with at least one keyboard having keys exposed tothe outside of the first housing means; a second keyboard unit havingsecond housing means with at least one keyboard having keys exposed tothe outside of the second housing means; frame means carrying said firstand second keyboard units; said frame means having a first elongatedgenerally horizontal frame section and a second elongated generallyhorizontal frame section; transverse means pivotally connecting thefirst frame section to the second frame section whereby the first andsecond frame sections can be moved from generally horizontal positionsto generally upright side-by-side positions; said first keyboard unitmounted on the first section and said second keyboard unit mounted onthe second section; and a plurality of leg means connected to eachsection of the frame means to selectively support said keyboard units ina first generally horizontal position and in a second generally uprightback-to-back position with the keys on the outsides of the apparatus,said plurality of leg means having first leg means pivotally connectedto an outer end portion of the first frame section, second leg meanspivotally connected to an outer end portion of the second frame section,and third leg means fixed to the transverse means and spacedsubstantially the same distance from the first leg means and second legmeans, first brace means located generally below the first frame sectionpivotally connected to the first leg means and the third leg means,second brace means located generally below the second frame sectionpivotally connected to the second leg means and the third leg means,said first and second brace means being located in a generally commonhorizontal plane when the frame means is in the first generallyhorizontal position.
 26. A multiple keyboard apparatus comprising: afirst keyboard unit having a first base means, first housing meanslocated over and covering the first base means, a plurality of separatefirst keyboards mounted within the first housing means, each of saidfirst keyboards having keys exposed to the outside of the first housingmeans; a second keyboard unit having a second base means, second housingmeans located over and covering the second base means, a plurality ofseparate second keyboards mounted within the second housing means, eachof said second keyboards having keys exposed to the outside of thesecond housing means; frame means carrying said first and secondkeyboard units; said frame means having a first elongated frame sectionsecured to the first base means and a second elongated frame sectionsecured to the second base means; pivot means movably connecting thefirst frame section to the second frame section whereby the first andsecond frame sections can be selectively moved to a first generallyhorizontal end-to-end position and to a second generally uprightside-by-side position; and a plurality of leg means connected to theframe means to selectively support said keyboard units in a firstgenerally horizontal position and in a second generally uprightback-to-back position with the keys on the outside of the apparatus. 27.The multiple keyboard apparatus of claim 26 wherein: the first framesection and the second frame section each have a pair of elongated framemembers.
 28. The multiple keyboard apparatus of claim 26 wherein: theleg means comprise first leg means connected to the first frame section,second leg means connected to the second frame section, and third legmeans located between the first and second leg means and connected tothe first and second frame sections.
 29. The apparatus of claim 26including: first means for securing the first housing means to the firstbase means and second means for securing the second housing means to thesecond base means.
 30. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein: the leg meansinclude legs having outwardly directed portions, wheel means mounted onsaid portions, said wheel means being located outwardly of the outsideupright planes of the first and second keyboard units when the first andsecond keyboard units are in the upright back-to-back position.